Morotai Island
Kabupaten Pulau Morotai terletak di Provinsi Maluku Utara dan merupakan pulau yang memiliki potensi luar biasa dalam berbagai aspek khususnya aspek Pariwisata ; baik pariwisata sejarah maupun wisata alam karena selain memiliki berbagai macam peninggalan dari perang dunia ke II , Morotai jg memiliki pesona alam tersendiri yang tidak dimiliki daerah2 lain ....
| Geography | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | South East Asia | ||||||||
| Coordinates | 2°19′N 128°32′E / 2.317°N 128.533°E | ||||||||
| Archipelago | Maluku Islands | ||||||||
| Area | 1,800 km2 | ||||||||
Daftar KecamatanBatas Wilayah
Country | |||||||||
Indonesia | |||||||||
| Province | North Maluku | ||||||||
Pulau Morotai (695 mil persegi/1.800 km²) adalah nama sebuah pulau sekaligus kabupaten definitif baru yang terletak di kepulauan Halmahera, Kepulauan Maluku, Indonesia. Sebagai bagian dari Provinsi Maluku Utara, ia merupakan salah satu pulau paling utara di Indonesia.
Kabupaten Pulau Morotai diresmikan oleh Menteri Dalam Negeri Indonesia, Mardiyanto, pada 29 Oktober 2008, sebagai hasil pemekaran dari Kabupaten Halmahera Utara.
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[edit] History
During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, Morotai was generally within the sphere of influence of the powerful sultanate on the island of Ternate. It was the core of a larger region, called Moro, that included the island and the coastline of Halmahera closest to Morotai to the south.In the mid-sixteenth century, the island was also the site of a Portuguese Jesuit mission. The Muslim states on Ternate and Halmahera resented the outpost for its proselytising activities, and managed to drive the mission from the island in 1571, as a part of a larger Portuguese retreat in the region. In the seventeenth century, Ternate further exerted its power over Morotai by repeatedly forcing major parts of the population to move off the island. Early in the century most of the population was moved to Dodinga, a small town in a strategic spot on Halmahera's west coast. Later, in 1627 and 1628, Sultan Hamzah of Ternate had much of the Christian population of the island moved to Malayu, on Ternate, where they could be more easily controlled.
[edit] World War II
Main article: Battle of Morotai
Part of World War II, Pacific War
LSTs landing supplies at Blue Beach, Morotai
The island was captured by the Japanese in early 1942. Morotai's southern plain was taken by American forces in September 1944 during the Battle of Morotai, and used as a staging point for the Allied invasion of the Philippines in early 1945, and of Borneo in May and June of that year. Japanese soldier Teruo Nakamura was discovered in the Morotai jungle in 1974, as one of the WWII Japanese soldiers who held out subsequent to the Japanese military's surrender.Part of World War II, Pacific War
LSTs landing supplies at Blue Beach, Morotai
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coordinates: 2°19′0″N 128°32′0″E / 2.316667°N 128.533333°E
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Morotai's development into an Allied base began shortly after the landing, and two major airfields were ready for use in October. These and other base facilities played an important role in the liberation of the Philippines during 1944 and 1945. Torpedo boats and aircraft based at Morotai also harassed Japanese positions in the NEI. The island's base facilities were further expanded in 1945 to support the Australian-led Borneo Campaign, and Morotai remained an important logistical hub and command center until the Dutch reestablished their colonial rule in the NEI.
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[edit] Background
Morotai is a small island located in the Halmahera group of eastern Indonesia's Maluku Islands. Most of the island's interior is rugged and covered in thick jungle. The Doroeba Plain in Morotai's south-west corner is the largest of the island's few lowland areas. Prior to the outbreak of war, Morotai had a population of 9,000 and had not been commercially developed. It formed part of the Netherlands East Indies and was ruled by the Dutch through the Sultanate of Ternate. The Japanese occupied Morotai in early 1942 during the Netherlands East Indies campaign but did not garrison or develop it.[2]In early 1944 Morotai emerged as an area of importance to the Japanese military when it started developing the neighbouring larger island of Halmahera as a focal point for the defence of the southern approaches to the Philippines.[3] In May 1944, the Imperial Japanese Army's 32nd Division arrived at Halmahera to defend the island and its nine airstrips.[3] The division had suffered heavy losses when the convoy carrying it from China (the Take Ichi convoy) was attacked by US submarines.[4] Two battalions from the 32nd Division's 211th Infantry Regiment were initially deployed to Morotai to develop an airstrip on the Doroeba Plain. Both battalions were withdrawn to Halmahera in mid-July, however, when the airstrip was abandoned due to drainage problems.[5] Allied code breakers detected the Japanese buildup at Halmahera and Morotai's weak defenses, and passed this information on to the relevant planning staff.[6]
In July 1944, General Douglas MacArthur, the commander of the South West Pacific Area, selected Morotai as the location for air bases and naval facilities needed to support the liberation of Mindanao, which at the time was planned for November 15. While Morotai was undeveloped, it was preferred over Halmahera as the larger and significantly better-defended island was judged too difficult to capture and secure.[7] The occupation of Morotai was designated Operation Tradewind. The landing was scheduled to take place on September 15, 1944, the same day as the 1st Marine Division's landing at Peleliu. This schedule allowed the main body of the United States Pacific Fleet to simultaneously protect both operations from potential Japanese counter-attacks.[8]
As little opposition was expected, Allied planners decided to land the invasion force close to the airfield sites on the Doroeba Plain. Two beaches in the south-west coast of the island were selected as suitable landing sites, and were designated Red Beach and White Beach. The Allied plan called for all three infantry regiments of the 31st Division to be landed across these beaches on September 15 and swiftly drive inland to secure the plain. As Morotai's interior had no military value, the Allies did not intend to advance beyond a perimeter needed to defend the airfields.[9] Planning for the construction of airfields and other base installations was also conducted prior to the landing, and tentative locations for these facilities had been selected by September 15.[10]
[edit] Prelude
[edit] Opposing forces
At the time of the Allied landings, Morotai was defended by approximately 500 Japanese soldiers. The main unit was the 2nd Provisional Raiding Unit, which had gradually arrived on Morotai between July 12–19, 1944 to replace the 32nd Division battalions when they were withdrawn. The 2nd Provisional Raiding Unit comprised four companies and was manned by Japanese officers and Formosan soldiers. Small elements of several other infantry, military police and support units were also present on the island. The 2nd Provisional Raiding Unit's commander, Major Takenobu Kawashima, deployed the unit in the south-west sector of the island and used the other units to establish lookout posts and detachments around Morotai's coastline.[11] The largest of these outposts was on the island's north-east end at Cape Sopi, and consisted of about 100 men.[12] The Japanese force was too small and widely dispersed to be able to mount an effective defense, so the 32nd Division ordered it to build dummy camps and use other deceptions in an attempt to trick the Allies into thinking that Morotai was strongly held.[5]
The landing force was supported by powerful air and naval forces. The United States Fifth Air Force provided direct support while the Thirteenth Air Force and No. 10 Operational Group RAAF conducted strategic missions in the NEI and Philippines.[15] The naval force was designated Task Force 77 and was organised into two attack groups, four reinforcement groups, a support group and an escort carrier group. The attack and reinforcement groups were responsible for transporting the assault force and subsequent support units and comprised twenty-four destroyers, four frigates, two Australian LSIs, five APDs, one LSD, twenty-four LCIs, forty-five LSTs, twenty LCTs and eleven LCIs armed with rockets. The support group was made up of two Australian heavy cruisers, three US light cruisers and eight US and two Australian destroyers. The escort carrier group comprised six escort carriers and ten destroyer escorts and provided anti-submarine and combat air patrol. Task Force 38.4 with two fleet carriers, two light aircraft carriers, one heavy cruiser, one light cruiser and thirteen destroyers was also available to support Task Force 77 if required.[16]
[edit] Preliminary attacks
Preliminary air attacks to suppress the Japanese air forces in the vicinity of Morotai began in August 1944. At this time, the Allies estimated that there were 582 Japanese aircraft within 400 miles (640 km) of Morotai, 400 of which were in the objective area. The Allied air forces conducted heavy raids on airfields in the Halmaheras, Celebes, Ceram, Ambon, Boeroe and other areas. US Navy carrier-borne aircraft also attacked Japanese air units based at Mindanao and mounted further attacks on Halmahera and Celebes. These attacks were successful, and by September 14 it was estimated that only 60 aircraft remained in the vicinity of Morotai.[17]In order to preserve surprise, the Allies did not bombard Morotai prior to the invasion and conducted only a few photographic reconnaissance flights over the island.[18] An Allied Intelligence Bureau patrol had been landed in the island in June but the information it collected was not passed on to the Sixth Army. Although the Tradewind Taskforce had little information on the invasion beaches or Japanese positions, the Sixth Army did not land any of its own reconnaissance patrols on Morotai, as it was feared that these could warn the island's defenders that an attack was imminent.[19]
The Tradewind Taskforce embarked onto the invasion convoy at several bases in north-west New Guinea and subsequently conducted landing rehearsals at Aitape and Wakde Island in early September. The convoy gathered at Maffin Bay on September 11 and set out for Morotai the next day. Its voyage was uneventful, and the convoy arrived off Morotai on the morning of September 15 without being detected by Japanese force.[20]
[edit] Allied landings
The first wave of American troops landed on Morotai at 8:30 and did not encounter any opposition. The 155th and 167th RCTs landed at Red Beach and the 124th RCT at White Beach. Once ashore, the assault troops assembled into their tactical units and rapidly advanced inland. By the end of the day the 31st Division had secured all of its D-Day objectives and held a perimeter 2,000 yards (1,800 m) inland. There was little fighting and casualties were very low on both sides.[22] The Japanese 2nd Provisional Raiding Unit was unable to offer any resistance to the overwhelming Allied force, and withdrew inland in good order. Japanese 7th Air Division aircraft based at Ceram and the Celebes began a series of nightly air raids on Morotai on September 15, but these had little effect on the Allied force.[23]
The lack of resistance was fortunate for the Allies due to unexpectedly poor beach conditions.[24] While the limited pre-invasion intelligence suggested that Red and White beaches were capable of supporting an amphibious landing, they were in fact highly unsuitable for this purpose. Both beaches were muddy and difficult for landing craft to approach owing to rocky ridges and coral reefs. As a result, soldiers and equipment had to be landed through deep surf. This delayed the operation and damaged a large quantity of equipment.[25] Like many of his soldiers, General MacArthur was forced to wade through chest-high surf when he came ashore.[26] On the morning of D-Day a survey party determined that a beach on the south coast of Morotai was much better suited to LSTs. This beach, which was designated Blue Beach, became the primary Allied landing point from September 16.[27]
A detachment from a Dutch Netherlands East Indies Civil Affairs Unit (NICA) was responsible for civil affairs on Morotai. This detachment came ashore on September 15, and reestablished Dutch sovereignty over Morotai's civilian population. Many natives subsequently provided NICA with intelligence on Japanese dispositions on Morotai and Halmahera and others acted as guides for American patrols.[29]
The American ground troops did not require the heavy air support which was available to them, and the fast carrier group was released for other duties on September 17. The six escort carriers remained in support, but their aircraft saw little action. Four of the CVEs were released on September 25 and the remaining two on October 4.[32] The destroyer escort USS Shelton was sunk by Japanese submarine RO-41 on October 3 while escorting the CVE group.[33][34] Several hours later a TBF Avenger from the escort carrier USS Midway attacked USS Seawolf 20 miles (32 km) north of where Shelton had been torpedoed, in the mistaken belief that she was the submarine responsible. After dropping two bombs, the TBF guided USS Richard M. Rowell to the area and the destroyer escort sank Seawolf after five attempts, killing all the submarine's crew. It was later determined that while Seawolf was traveling in a designated "submarine safety lane", the CVE pilots had not been properly briefed on the lane's existence and location, and that the submarine's position had not been provided to USS Richard M. Rowell.[35]
The US Navy established a PT boat base at Morotai on September 16 when the tenders USS Mobjack and Oyster Bay arrived with motor torpedo boat squadrons 9, 10, 18 and 33 and their forty-one boats. The PT boats' primary mission was to prevent the Japanese from moving troops from Halmahera to Morotai by establishing a blockade of the 12 mile-wide strait between the two islands.[36]
Elements of the 31st Division embarked from Morotai in November to capture several islands off New Guinea from which Japanese outposts could observe Allied movements. On November 15, 1,200 troops from the 2nd Battalion, 167th Infantry Regiment and attached units were landed at Pegun Island in the Mapia islands; the next day, Bras Island was attacked. The Mapia Islands were declared secure on November 18 after resistance from 172 Japanese troops of the 36th Infantry Division was overcome. On November 19, a force of 400 US troops built around F Company, 124th Infantry Regiment occupied the undefended Asia Islands.[37] These were the first offensive operations overseen by the Eighth United States Army, and the naval commander for both operations was Captain Lord Ashbourne of the Royal Navy on board HMS Ariadne. Radar and LORAN stations were subsequently established on the islands.[38]
[edit] Base development
Work began on base facilities before Morotai was secured. Survey parties began transit surveys of the airfield sites on September 16 which determined that their planned alignment was unworkable.[10] Plans to complete the Japanese airfield were also abandoned as it would have interfered with the larger airfields which were to be built to the east, and it was instead cleared and used as an emergency "crash strip". Work on the first new airstrip (called Wama Drome) began on September 23 after the site was cleared. By October 4 Wama Drome's runway was operable for 5,000 feet (1,500 m) and was supporting heavy bomber raids on Balikpapan in Borneo. Construction of the even larger Pitoe Drome, which was to have two runways parallel to Wama Drome, began in late September and by October 17 it had a usable 7,000-foot (2,100 m) runway.[40] Construction work was accelerated from October 18 after the United States Third Fleet withdrew from providing direct support to the planned landing at Leyte.[41] When the two airstrips were completed in November they boasted three large runways and hardstandings for 253 aircraft, including 174 heavy bombers.[42] Although the air base construction required the destruction of native villages, the American and Australian airfield engineers were assisted from October 1 by about 350 native laborers recruited by the NICA detachment.[29]
Other base facilities were erected concurrently with the construction of the airstrips. Work on fuel storage facilities began shortly after the landing, and the first was ready on September 20. A jetty for oil tankers and a larger tank farm were completed in early October, and storage facilities continued to be expanded until November, when capacity for 129,000 barrels of fuel was available. Several docks capable of accommodating liberty ships were constructed on Morotai's west coast, and the first was completed on October 8. In addition, twenty LST landings were constructed on Blue Beach to facilitate the loading and unloading of these ships. Other major construction projects included an extensive road network, a naval installation, 28,000 square feet (2,600 m2) of warehousing, and clearing land for supply dumps and bivouacs. A 1,000-bed hospital was also built after the original plans for a 1,900-bed facility were revised. The main difficulties encountered were overcoming the mud caused by unusually heavy rains and finding sufficient water supplies.[43]
A revision to Allied plans meant that Morotai played a much greater role in the liberation of the Philippines than had been originally envisioned. The invasion of Mindanao was postponed in September 1944 in favour of a landing at Leyte in the central Philippines in late October. The air bases at Morotai were the closest Allied air strips to Leyte and fighters and bombers based on the island attacked targets in the southern Philippines and NEI in support of the landing at Leyte on October 25.[44] After airfields were completed at Leyte, Morotai was also used as a staging point for fighters and bombers traveling to the Philippines.[45]
[edit] Subsequent fighting
[edit] Japanese response
The Japanese military recognized that its forces in the Philippines would be threatened if the Allies developed airfields on Morotai. In an attempt to disrupt the airfield construction program, the Japanese Army commanders on Halmahera sent large numbers of reinforcements to Morotai between late September and November. These troops included the main body of the 211th Infantry Regiment, the 3rd Battalion of the 210th Infantry Regiment and three raiding detachments.[23] The commander of the 211th Infantry Regiment, Colonel Kisou Ouchi, assumed command of the Japanese forces on Morotai on October 12.[46] Allied codebreakers were often able to warn the forces at Morotai of attempts to run the blockade,[6] and PT boats destroyed a large number of the barges which were used to transport troops from Halmahera. The Allies were, however, unable to completely stop the Japanese buildup.[47]
In late December 1944, the US 33rd Infantry Division's 136th Infantry Regiment was brought to Morotai from New Guinea to attack the Japanese 211th Infantry Regiment in the west of the island. After landing on the island's west coast, the American regiment moved into Japanese-held territory on December 26 and advanced on the Japanese position from the south-west and north. The 136th was supported by a battalion of the 130th Infantry Regiment advancing overland from the Doroeba Plain, artillery units stationed on islands off Morotai's coast and one hundred native porters.[50] The 3rd Battalion of the 167th Infantry Regiment also participated in this operation and made a difficult march from Morotai's south coast into the interior to prevent the Japanese from scattering into small groups in the island's mountains.[51]
In early January 1945 the American force determined that two battalions of the Japanese 211th Regiment were at Hill 40, about four miles north of the Allied perimeter. The attack on this position began on January 3 when the 136th Infantry Regiment's 1st and 2nd battalions advanced from the south-west and encountered strong resistance. The regiment used a large quantity of ammunition in this attack, and aerial resupply was needed to replenish its supplies. Both American battalions resumed their attack the next day with the support of a highly effective artillery bombardment, and reached the main Japanese position in the afternoon. During this period the 3rd Battalion of the 136th Regiment advanced on Hill 40 from the north, and destroyed the 211th Regiment's 3rd Battalion in a series of battles. This Japanese battalion had been stationed on the coast to receive supplies from Halmahera and mounted several unsuccessful attacks on the American battalion's beachhead after it landed in December.[52]
The 136th Infantry Regiment completed its attack on Hill 40 on January 5. The Regiment's 1st and 2nd Battalions advanced from the west and south-west and the 3rd Battalion from the north, meeting little resistance. The 1st and 2nd Battalions continued north to pursue any Japanese remnants until January 14, by which time the regiment claimed to have killed 870 Japanese soldiers and captured ten for a loss of 46 killed and 127 wounded and injured.[53] The 3rd Battalion, 167th Infantry Regiment linked up with the 136th on January 7 after overrunning the main Japanese radio station on the island on January 4.[54] In mid-January, the 136th Regiment was withdrawn to the Allied perimeter where it rejoined the 33rd Division, which was staging through Morotai en-route for the Allied landing in Luzon.[55]
[edit] Air attacks and Allied mopping up
The Japanese 7th Air Division continued to raid Morotai for months after the Allied landing. The air division conducted 82 raids on Morotai involving 179 sorties between September 15, 1944 and February 1, 1945. The aircraft used in these raids flew from Ceram and the Celebes and landed at airfields on Halmahera before proceeding to their targets. While 54 of the raids caused no damage, the others resulted in the destruction of forty two Allied aircraft and damage to another thirty three. Allied casualties from air attack were 19 killed and 99 wounded. The most successful raid was conducted on the night of November 22 when 15 Allied planes were destroyed and eight damaged. The regular Japanese air raids ceased at the end of January 1945, though a final attack took place on March 22. USAAF night fighters had only limited success as raiders were normally detected only shortly before they entered anti-aircraft gun defended zones; these guns shot down most of the 26 Japanese aircraft lost over Morotai.[56] The official history of the USAAF's night fighter force states that Morotai "was probably the most difficult task undertaken by American night fighters during World War II" due to the difficulty of detecting incoming raiders.[57]The PT boat force at Morotai was reduced to a single squadron by February 1945 but remained active until the end of the war. As well as patrolling around Morotai, the boats operated in the eastern NEI to raid Japanese positions and support Australian and Dutch scouting parties. In May 1945 they were also used to rescue the Sultan of Ternate along with his court and harem after he was mistreated by the Japanese.[58] By the end of the war the PT boats had conducted nearly 1,300 patrols and destroyed 50 barges and 150 small craft off Morotai and Halmahera.[59]
The 31st Division remained at Morotai until April 12, 1945 when it departed to participate in the liberation of Mindanao, and was replaced by the 93rd Infantry Division.[60] The 93rd Division was a segregated African American unit, and was mainly used for security and labor tasks during the war.[61] Once established on Morotai the division conducted intensive patrols with the aim of destroying the remaining Japanese force on the island. At this time most of the Japanese on Morotai were located along the island's west coast, and generally stayed close to native gardens. The 93rd Division landed patrols along Morotai's west and north coasts from April onwards, and these fought scattered skirmishes with small Japanese forces. One of the division's main goals was to capture Colonel Ouchi, and this was achieved by a patrol from the 25th Infantry Regiment on August 2. Ouchi was the highest-ranked Japanese officer to be captured before the end of the war.[62]
[edit] Aftermath
Morotai was the scene of a number of surrender ceremonies following the surrender of Japan. About 660 Japanese troops on Morotai capitulated to Allied forces after August 15.[64] The 93rd Division also accepted the surrender of the 40,000 Japanese troops at Halmahera on August 26 after the Japanese commander there was brought to Morotai on a US Navy PT boat.[49] On September 9, 1945 Australian General Thomas Blamey accepted the surrender of the Japanese Second Army at a ceremony held on the I Corps' sports ground at Morotai.[65] Private Teruo Nakamura, the last confirmed Japanese holdout on Morotai or elsewhere, was captured by Indonesian Air Force personnel on 18 December 1974.[66][67]
Morotai remained a significant Allied base in the months after the war. The Australian force responsible for the occupation and military administration of the eastern NEI was headquartered at Morotai until April 1946, when the Dutch colonial government was reestablished.[68][69] The island was also one of the sites where the Australian and NEI militaries conducted war crimes trials of Japanese personnel.[70
Perkembangan Pulau Morotai
Maluku Utara Usulkan Morotai sebagai Kawasan Strategis
Gubernur Maluku Utara berharap Pulau Morotai dan sekitarnya dapat dijadikan sebagai Kawasan Strategis dalam hal pembangunan berbasis IPTEK. Hal ini disampaikan Deputi Bidang Koordinasi Infrastruktur dan Pengembangan Wilayah-Kemenko Perekonomian, Luky Eko W dalam rapat pembahasan usulan pengembangan Kawasan Morotai dan penyelesaian masalah penggunaan kawasan hutan Batam, di Jakarta (1/6). Keinginan tersebut juga disampaikan dalam rangka mengusulkan kerjasama dengan Amerika Serikat, terkait dengan rencana kunjungan Presiden Amerika Serikat ke Indonesia dengan agenda meningkatkan kerjasama dengan Indonesia di bidang IPTEK.
Menurut pemerintah Maluku Utara, membangun Kawasan Strategis Pulau Morotai berbasis IPTEK yang dapat memegang peranan penting dalam perdagangan bebas skala internasional, seperti membangun fasilitas pelabuhan laut transit antar benua, bandar udara internasional, PLTN, dan fasilitas kawasan industri strategis yang sesuai dengan daya dukung, fungsi dan peranan Pulau Morotai ke depan.
Melihat kondisi saat ini, menurut Luky, usulan perlu dikaji lebih lanjut. Penetapan sebuah KSN pada hakekatnya didasarkan pada pertimbangan seksama. “Pertimbangannya adalah kawasan yang bersangkutan telah berkembang kegiatan yang skala dan karakteristiknya dipandang memiliki dampak yang strategis secara nasional”, imbuhnya. Sementara itu, untuk kawasan yang dipandang memiliki potensi sebagai KSN di masa yang akan datang, kota utamanya ditetapkan sebagai PKSN.
Selanjutnya, dalam hirarki tata ruang, penetapan Kota Daruba sebagai PKSN ini harus ditindaklanjuti oleh Pemerintah Provinsi melalui pengembangan kapasitas pelayanannya, sehingga dapat secara optimal berfungsi sebagai pusat kegiatan bagi wilayah-wilayah sekitarnya, khususnya Pulau Morotai.
Usulan untuk menetapkan Pulau Morotai sebagai KSN akan memiliki konsekuensi mengubah PP No.26/2008 tentang RTRWN. “Akan lebih baik jika hal tersebut diusulkan pada waktu revisi RTRWN di masa yang akan datang setelah dilakukan evaluasi terhadap perkembangan skala maupun karakteristik kegiatan di Pulau Morotai sampai saat itu,” tandas Luky.
Namun, Luky menghimpun kesepakatan seluruh peserta rapat untuk mendukung keinginan Gubernur Provinsi Maluku Utara untuk menjadikan Pulau Morotai sebagai kawasan strategis. Dengan mempertimbangkan kondisi eksisting Kabupaten yang baru saja mekar tersebut, Pemerintah Pusat perlu memberikan bantuan pembangunan baik sarana dan prasarana maupun SDM Kabupaten Pulau Morotai hingga kabupaten tersebut memenuhi kriteria kawasan strategis sebagaimana ditetapkan pada PP No. 26 tahun 2008 tentang RTRWN. Apabila kondisi di Morotai sudah memenuhi kriteria RTRWN maka pada saat review PP No. 26 tahun 2008, Pulau Morotai akan dijadikan kawasan strategis.
Berkaitan dengan rencana kunjungan Presiden Amerika, Pulau Morotai akan diusulkan sebagai sebagai salah satu agenda bahasan Presiden RI dengan Presiden AS. Untuk itu Kementerian PU cq. Ditjen Penataan Ruang akan menyiapkan bahan paparan Pulau Morotai untuk dipertimbangkan Presiden RI.
Lina Marlia Direktur Penataan Ruang Wilayah IV mewakili Dirjen Penataan Ruang menyepakati 2 (dua) hal penting yang akan disampaikan dalam paparan tersebut, yaitu nilai historis dan potensi unggulan. “Pulau Morotai sebagai basis pertahanan Amerika Serikat untuk merebut Filipina dari Jepang adalah bukti sejarah Perang Dunia II yang juga menyiratkan nilai psikologis yang erat dengan Amerika Serikat”, imbuhnya. “Yang tidak kalah penting, Pulau Morotai mempunyai potensi unggulan yaitu perikanan baik tangkap maupun budidaya dengan orientasi ekspor”, tandas Lina.
Selain Kemenko Bidang Perekonomian dan Kementerian PU, hadir pula beberapa wakil kementerian/lembaga dalam rapat tersebut, antara lain Sekretariat Negara, Sekretariat Kabinet, Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan, dan Badan Pengkajian dan Penerapan Teknologi. (pd)
Menurut pemerintah Maluku Utara, membangun Kawasan Strategis Pulau Morotai berbasis IPTEK yang dapat memegang peranan penting dalam perdagangan bebas skala internasional, seperti membangun fasilitas pelabuhan laut transit antar benua, bandar udara internasional, PLTN, dan fasilitas kawasan industri strategis yang sesuai dengan daya dukung, fungsi dan peranan Pulau Morotai ke depan.
Melihat kondisi saat ini, menurut Luky, usulan perlu dikaji lebih lanjut. Penetapan sebuah KSN pada hakekatnya didasarkan pada pertimbangan seksama. “Pertimbangannya adalah kawasan yang bersangkutan telah berkembang kegiatan yang skala dan karakteristiknya dipandang memiliki dampak yang strategis secara nasional”, imbuhnya. Sementara itu, untuk kawasan yang dipandang memiliki potensi sebagai KSN di masa yang akan datang, kota utamanya ditetapkan sebagai PKSN.
Selanjutnya, dalam hirarki tata ruang, penetapan Kota Daruba sebagai PKSN ini harus ditindaklanjuti oleh Pemerintah Provinsi melalui pengembangan kapasitas pelayanannya, sehingga dapat secara optimal berfungsi sebagai pusat kegiatan bagi wilayah-wilayah sekitarnya, khususnya Pulau Morotai.
Usulan untuk menetapkan Pulau Morotai sebagai KSN akan memiliki konsekuensi mengubah PP No.26/2008 tentang RTRWN. “Akan lebih baik jika hal tersebut diusulkan pada waktu revisi RTRWN di masa yang akan datang setelah dilakukan evaluasi terhadap perkembangan skala maupun karakteristik kegiatan di Pulau Morotai sampai saat itu,” tandas Luky.
Namun, Luky menghimpun kesepakatan seluruh peserta rapat untuk mendukung keinginan Gubernur Provinsi Maluku Utara untuk menjadikan Pulau Morotai sebagai kawasan strategis. Dengan mempertimbangkan kondisi eksisting Kabupaten yang baru saja mekar tersebut, Pemerintah Pusat perlu memberikan bantuan pembangunan baik sarana dan prasarana maupun SDM Kabupaten Pulau Morotai hingga kabupaten tersebut memenuhi kriteria kawasan strategis sebagaimana ditetapkan pada PP No. 26 tahun 2008 tentang RTRWN. Apabila kondisi di Morotai sudah memenuhi kriteria RTRWN maka pada saat review PP No. 26 tahun 2008, Pulau Morotai akan dijadikan kawasan strategis.
Berkaitan dengan rencana kunjungan Presiden Amerika, Pulau Morotai akan diusulkan sebagai sebagai salah satu agenda bahasan Presiden RI dengan Presiden AS. Untuk itu Kementerian PU cq. Ditjen Penataan Ruang akan menyiapkan bahan paparan Pulau Morotai untuk dipertimbangkan Presiden RI.
Lina Marlia Direktur Penataan Ruang Wilayah IV mewakili Dirjen Penataan Ruang menyepakati 2 (dua) hal penting yang akan disampaikan dalam paparan tersebut, yaitu nilai historis dan potensi unggulan. “Pulau Morotai sebagai basis pertahanan Amerika Serikat untuk merebut Filipina dari Jepang adalah bukti sejarah Perang Dunia II yang juga menyiratkan nilai psikologis yang erat dengan Amerika Serikat”, imbuhnya. “Yang tidak kalah penting, Pulau Morotai mempunyai potensi unggulan yaitu perikanan baik tangkap maupun budidaya dengan orientasi ekspor”, tandas Lina.
Selain Kemenko Bidang Perekonomian dan Kementerian PU, hadir pula beberapa wakil kementerian/lembaga dalam rapat tersebut, antara lain Sekretariat Negara, Sekretariat Kabinet, Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan, dan Badan Pengkajian dan Penerapan Teknologi. (pd)
[edit] Geography
Morotai is a rugged, forested island lying to the north of Halmahera. It has an area of some 1,800 km2, stetching 80 km north-south and no more than 42 km wide. The island's largest town is Daruba, on the islands south coast. Almost all of Morotai's numerous villages are coastal settlements; a paved road linking those on the east coast starts from Daruba and will eventually reach Berebere, the principal town on Morotai's east coast, 68 km from Daruba.Pulau Morotai
Dulu jalur strategis, kini malah terlupakan.
Morotai tempo dulu adalah sebuah pulau kecil yang sangat strategis dalam menyusun kekuatan militer semasa Perang Dunia (PD) ke-2. Bukan apa-apa, di pulau yang berada di bibir Samudra Pasifik inilah pasukan Amerika Serikat (AS) mengatur strategi militer guna menaklukkan musuh-musuhnya.
Bandar udara pun dibangun agar bisa didarati pesawat-pesawat tempur milik AS dan para sekutunya. Di bawah komando Panglima Divisi VII AS, Jenderal Douglas MacArthur yang heroik itu, sebanyak 63 batalion mendarat di Tanjung Dehegila, Morotai sejak 15 September 1944. Di situlah, jenderal berbintang empat itu menggalang kekuatan ratusan ribu pasukan dari berbagai angkatan mulai dari darat, laut, dan udara. Tujuannya, menggempur kekuatan tentara Jepang yang berkuasa di kawasan Asia, termasuk Indonesia.
Bagi tentara Sekutu, Bandara Morotai merupakan sistem multi pintu masuk (multi gate system) dari Pasifi k. Morotai dipilih AS karena secara geografi s memang sangat strategis di kawasan Asia Pasifi k. Dan terbukti, Morotai mampu membawa kemenangan bagi tentara AS dalam menundukkan musuh utamanya, tentara Nippon.
Padahal secara geologis, Kepu lauan Morotai rawan terhadap bencana alam seperti gempa bumi tektonik dan tsunami. Maklum, kawasan itu terletak pada pertemuan tiga lempeng, yakni Lempeng Australia yang bergerak ke arah selatan, serta Lempeng Eurasia dan Lempeng Pasifik, keduanya bergerak dari arah barat.
Pesawat Tempur Tercanggih
Bisa dibayangkan keramaian Morotai ketika itu. Pesawat-pesawat tempur milik negara adi kuasa tercanggih di zamannya itu hilir-mudik meramaikan kota kecil. Tak hanya Morotai yang ramai. Pulau-pulau kecil di sekitarnya juga dijadikan markas untuk mendukung kegiatan utama di Morotai.
Di Pulau Zum-zum misalnya, dulu digunakan sebagai pusat komando bagi pasukan sekutu. MacArthur pernah bermarkas di pulau yang kini secara administratif berada di Kecamatan Morotai Selatan, Kabupaten Moratai, Provinsi Maluku Utara (Malut). Pulau yang berjarak sekitar lima mil dari Morotai itu kabarnya juga dipakai sebagai tempat persembunyian bagi pemimpin tentara Jepang, Nakamura. Di Pulau ini terdapat berbagai benda peninggalan sejarah seperti pistol, rangka pesawat tempur, mobil perang, dan lain-lain.
Wajar saja kalau para petinggi AS dan Jepang itu betah tinggal di sana. Selain cukup aman, pulau ini masih alami dan memiliki panorama pasir putih nan menawan. Keindahan dasar lautnya juga sangat memikat. Aneka jenis terumbu karang dengan berbagai jenis ikan hias penuh warna- warni menghiasi keelokan alam dasar laut. Kini, suasananya jauh berbeda.
Tak ada lagi desingan gemuruh berbagai pesawat tempur. Bandara Morotai hanya menyisakan keperkasaan masa lalu. Tujuh jalur landasan pacu yang masing-masing memiliki panjang sekitar tiga kilometer (km) itu kini menjadi saksi bisu. “Hingga kini Bandara tersebut belum dimanfaatkan untuk operasional penerbangan sipil. Sayang memang, Morotai belum melayani penerbangan umum secara permanen,” ungkap Ketua Malut Crisis Center (MCC) Ir Muhammad Banapon, MSi. Kini, Bandara tersebut dijadikan pangkalan udara oleh
TNI AU yang lebih banyak dipakai untuk penerbangan militer. Kalaupun ada penerbangan sipil, itu terbatas untuk angkutan perniagaan. Padahal, kalau Morotai dijadikan bandara bagi penerbangan reguler maka berbagai kegiatan pun bakal ramai. Maklum, Morotai memiliki segudang potensi wisata, mulai dari wisata sejarah, wisata budaya, wisata bahari, sampai wisata darat. Morotai perlu dikemas menjadi daerah wisata bernuansa sejarah yang dilengkapi berbagai koleksi alat tempur sebagai simbol perjuangan tentara AS dan Jepang di kawasan itu.
Dengan begitu, banyak generasi muda dari kedua negara maju tersebut dapat bernostalgia ke Morotai dimana para leluhur mereka berjuang dengan gagah berani. Mereka pun dapat menikmati keindahan alam Morotai yang masih alami. Sejarah mencatat, ketika Morotai masih berada di Kabupaten Halmahera Utara, Provinsi Maluku, pada tahun 2002/2003 kontribusi sektor wisata cukup tinggi, yakni sekitar 28 persen dari Produk Domestik Regional Bruto (PDRB). Kini, setelah Morotai menjadi kota kabupaten di bawah koordinasi Gubernur Malut, kontribusi sektor wisata tersebut sebenarnya dapat ditingkatkan.
Berpasir Putih
Selain Morotai dan Zum-zum, kawasan indah juga terdapat di Pulau Dodola Besar dan Pulau Dodola Kecil, keduanya berada di Kecamatan Morotai Selatan. Di Taman Laut Dodola inilah para pelancong dapat menikmati rekreasi selam (diving) dan memancing. Maklum, kawasan ini memang terkenal dengan keindahan terumbu karang dan ikan hias.
Anda juga dapat menikmati panorama pantai berpasir putih sepanjang 16 km. Sementara itu, di Pulau Ngelengele Besar dan Pulau Ngelengele Kecil (keduanya berada di Kecamatan Morotai Selatan Barat dan berjarak sekitar lima mil dari Pelabuhan Daruba, Morotai) pelancong dapat memanjakan diri menikmati pasir putih, matahari tropis, dan laut biru.
Bagi yang gemar menyelam, silakan nikmati keelokan berbagai jenis terumbu karang dan ikan hias. Di dasar laut hingga kedalaman 6-8 meter, kondisi terumbu karangnya masih sangat baik dengan penutupan karang sekitar 75 persen dan dihuni 17 genera karang keras. Terumbu karangnya datar (reef fl at) dengan bentuk pertumbuhan bercabang. Kawasan ini juga memiliki potensi kerang kima, bintang laut, dan bulu babi.
Di perairan Pulau Ngele-ngele Kecil memiliki penutupan karang 63,5 persen. Walaupun persentase penutupan karang tersebut lebih kecil daripada di Pulau Ngele-ngele Besar, namun di perairan itu dihuni oleh 23 genera karang keras. Udang lobster yang lezat dan bergizi juga banyak ditemui di perairan ini. Tak jauh dari Morotai atau sekitar delapan mil, Anda juga dapat berkelana ke Pulau Galo-galo Kecil. Pulau yang mudah dijangkau dengan speed boat dan long boat dari Pelabuhan Daruba ini menyimpan keindahan dasar laut dan pantai pasir putih yang menawan.
Bukan hanya di laut, di darat pun Kabupaten Morotai kaya wisata alam. Sebut saja objek wisata Air Kaca di Morotai Selatan. Kawasan tersebut cocok untuk berekreasi dan olahraga. Lalu bagi penggemar wisata gua, dapat mampir di dua kecamatan, yakni Morotai Selatan dan Morotai Selatan Barat. Singkat kata, Kabupaten Pulau Morotai yang secara geografi s berada pada koordinat 2o 00’ sampai 2o 40’ Lintang Utara dan 128o 15’ sampai 128o 40’ Bujur Timur itu memang layak menjadi kota tujuan berbagai kegiatan bisnis yang strategis. Masa depan kabupaten yang dikaruniai 33 pulau kecil, tujuh pulau di antaranya berpenghuni ini memang sangat menjanjikan jika dikelola secara serius. _ b siswo
Morotai Undang Investor Pariwisata
Selasa, 13 April 2010 | 15:47 WIB
www.halmaherautara.com
Ada pulau tempat persembunyian Panglima Sekutu di Asia Pasifik MC Arthur serta goa tempat persembunyian tentara Jepang, Nakamura.
Kabupaten Pulau Morotai memiliki banyak objek wisata menarik, terutama objek wisata bahari dan objek wisata peninggalan sejarah. Semua objek wisata itu belum ada yang dikelola investor.
Ia mengatakan, salah satu objek wisata bahari yang sangat menarik di Kabupaten Pulau Morotai adalah wisata Pulau Dodola yang terletak di depan Kota Daruba, ibu kota
Pesawat terbang dan tumpukan kendaraan perang ini sengaja ditenggelamkan tentara Jepang untuk menghilnagkan jejak mereka ketika diserang Sekutu di Morotai. Pulai kecil ini dulu dianggap sangat strategis saat perang Pasifik sebagai batu loncatan untuk menguasai Philpina, Korea, dan Pasifik sehingga diperebutkan oleh tentara Jepang dan Sekutu. Kondisi wreck ini sekarang terbengkalai. Menunggu tangan arkeolog untuk mendokumentasikan dan mengungkap sejarah detilnya. (Dok. Dondy Arafat)
WRECK DI MOROTAI
Morotai adalah salah satu tempat wisata bawah air yang cukup mempesona di Maluku Utara. Pulau yang baru saja menjadi kabupaten tersendiri bulan september 2008, pecahan dari Halmahera Utara ini, memiliki luas ± 1.800 km². Morotai dapat ditempuh dari Ternate, ibukota Halmahera Utara, yang berjarak 138 mil. Wilayah ini secara umum memiliki tipologi lingkungan yang khas, di mana tidak hanya memiliki alam pegunungan tetapi juga memiliki areal pesisir pantai yang indah.
Hamparan pantai dan pulau-pulau kecil di sekitarnya merupakan aset wisata yang menarik untuk dikembangkan, dengan sedikitnya 13 dive spot yang mewakili kondisi bawah air yang mempesona, diisi oleh beragam biota di dalamnya. Salah satu dive spot yang luar biasa adalah Pantai Lapangan Pante. Tempat ini berada di arah timur Dermaga Daruba dengan jarak 1,25 mil laut yang dapat ditempuh selama 35 menit dengan menggunakan speed boat berkecepatan 25 knot.
Temuan-temuan di Pantai Lapangan Pante kini sudah rusak dan tersebar dalam satu area dengan kedalaman antara 8 – 89 meter, sebagian besar sudah hancur berkeping-keping. Kondisi tersebut menjadikan satu kendala dalam usaha identifikasi. Meski begitu, masih ada satu temuan—meskipun tidak utuh—yang memiliki beberapa item yang mampu mewakili tiap bagiannya dan berada pada kedalaman yang masih memungkinkan untuk dilakukan penyelaman, yaitu bangkai pesawat terbang. Karenanya, mengingat keterbatasan waktu penyelaman di kedalaman rata-rata 40 meter itu, proses identifikasi pun difokuskan pada bangkai pesawat tersebut. Temuan ini berada pada ± 200 meter dari Pantai Lapangan Pante dengan kedalaman 39 – 43 meter. Pada kedalaman tersebut kondisi air masih sangat jernih dengan visibilitas horisontal ± 20 meter dan suhu yang relatif hangat, yaitu ± 27º C.
Halmahera Utara adalah daerah yang terkenal dengan historical tourism object. menurut catatan sejarah Perang Dunia II. Salah satu wilayah yang menjadi saksi bisu dalam pertempuran antara tentara Jepang dan sekutu . Pada zaman Perang Dunia II, pulau ini menjadi pangkalan militer pasukan Amerika Serikat. pulau ini bernama MOROTAI
SISA-sisa peninggalan perang, seperti meriam, benteng, dan senapan, masih dapat dijumpai di pulau ini.
Lokasi peninggalan Perang Dunia (PD) II ini berpotensi menjadi tempat pariwisata unggulan. Sampai sekarang, ada beberapa mantan tentara PD II yang bernostalgia mengenang keterlibatan mereka di Halmahera. Peninggalan PD II di antaranya Pulau Sum-Sum tempat persembunyian Jenderal Douglas MacArthur, panglima perang tentara sekutu, dan Pulau Bobale di Kecamatan Kao.
Sebagai daerah kepulauan, Kabupaten Halmahera Utara memiliki potensi pariwisata bahari. Gugusan Pulau Dodola, Kokoya, Ngele-Ngele di Kecamatan Morotai memiliki pantai pasir putih, ikan hias, dan terumbu karang. Wisata pantai terdapat di Pantai Kupa-Kupa di Kecamatan Tobelo Selatan, Pantai Luari di Kecamatan Tobelo. Telaga Duma dan Telaga Makete di Kecamatan Galela, Telaga Lina di Kecamatan Kao, dan Telaga Paca di Kecamatan Tobelo. Bagi penggemar olahraga selam, Pulau Morotai memiliki taman laut yang indah untuk dinikmati.
Potensi utama Kabupaten Halmahera Utara diperoleh dari perkebunan dan jasa. Penduduk Halmahera Utara bergantung pada pertanian, terutama perkebunan kelapa dan cengkeh dan juga memancing.Pengolahan kelapa selama ini terbatas pada produk kopra. Produk dalam bentuk kopra dibawa ke Surabaya melalui Pelabuhan Tobelo. Di sana komoditas ini diolah lebih lanjut menjadi minyak kelapa. Rempah-rempah seperti cengkeh juga menjadi andalan kabupaten. Sepertiga luas areal dan produksi cengkeh di Kabupaten Maluku Utara disumbang oleh Kabupaten Halmahera Utara. Kecamatan Morotai Selatan, Malifut, dan Kao merupakan produsen terbesar di Halmahera Utara.
Sebanyak 78 persen wilayah Halmahera Utara terdiri atas perairan. Oleh karena itu, potensi perikanan wilayah ini tidak bisa dipandang sebelah mata. Lokasi strategis penangkapan ikan berada di perairan Tobelo, Tobelo Selatan, Morotai, Teluk Kao, dan Laut Maluku. Jenis ikan yang terdapat di perairan Halmahera Utara di antaranya pelagis besar seperti cakalang (Katsuwonus pelamis), tuna (Thunus spp), layaran (Isthiophorus spp), dan lemadang (Coryphaena spp). Jenis pelagis kecil juga banyak dijumpai, seperti ikan layang, kembung, teri, selar, dan julung-julung. Jenis ikan demersal seperti kakap merah, pisang-pisang, baronang, dan jenis ikan ekonomis tinggi seperti kerapu sunu dan kerapu bebek juga banyak dijumpai dari hasil tangkapan nelayan Halmahera Utara.
Komoditas perikanan lain seperti kepiting kenari, cumi-cumi, mutiara, dan ubur-ubur atau lebih dikenal dengan nama jelly fish banyak dijumpai di perairan Teluk Kao. Di perairan Morotai, nelayan banyak mendapatkan lobster bambu, batik, dan mutiara. Rumput laut, teripang pasir, teripang lotong, dan teripang hitam juga sering dijumpai.
MERCHANDISE KUALITAS PERANG PASIFIK
August 15, 2010 at 7:50 am , by nurannisaa
Morotai tambil berbeda. Merchandise khas di sana dibuat dari bahan bekas peralatan tempur Perang Pasifik. Banyak dijumpai di berbagai tempat di Morotai. Bukan sembarang merchandise, karena bahan utamanya berkualitas kelas satu. Mayoritas dibuat dari bahan emas, perak, atau monel yang dikenal tahan karat. Sekian lama, kerajinan besi putih dianggap mewakili kreativitas masyarakat Morotai.[edit] Economy
The island is heavily wooded and produces timber and resin.[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Andaya, Leonard (1993). The world of Maluku: eastern Indonesia in the early modern period. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
- Villiers, John (1988). Las Yslas de Esperar en Dios: The Jesuit Mission in Moro 1546-1571. Modern Asian Studies 22(3):593-606.
[hide]  North Maluku | |
|---|---|
| Capital: Ternate | |
| Regencies | Halmahera Barat • Halmahera Selatan • Halmahera Tengah • Halmahera Timur • Halmahera Utara • Kepulauan Sula Regency • Pulau Morotai Regency |
| Cities (Kota) | |
| Towns | |
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